OUR TEXT refers to that memorable scene when Abraham was sitting at
the door of his tent, probably inclined to slumber in the heat of noon.
Suddenly he saw three men apparently waiting for alms and help. Plenty of
travellers had come to his door before, seeking help and hospitality which
he had given freely. But though the heat was great, though he may have
been disappointed again and again in the recipients of his bounty, he felt
it better to be disappointed a hundred times than to miss the chance of
showing hospitality and welcome. Therefore he sprang to his feet, called
to Sarah for help, and the two of them quickly ministered to the three
unknown men. How thankful he must have been that he had not refused to
entertain them, for two of them were angels, and the third was the Son of
God!

In our crowded lives, where room is scarce, it is less easy for us to care
for the people who may be cast as strangers amongst us, but there is a
hospitality of the mind that we can all exercise, when we open our hearts
to some story of sorrow. None of us are quite aware, except we have
suffered in that way, how much it helps some people to be able to pour out
their burdens and sorrows. It is much to have a hospitable mind, to have a
sympathetic ear, and to make room in our heart for the story of human
pain, sorrow, and loneliness, which some, who are comparative strangers,
may want to confide in us. We may rebuke ourselves that our hearts do not
more nearly represent the hostel or inn into which sad or weary souls may
creep for shelter. Although you cannot say much, there may always be the
open door of your heart where the lonely and desolate may enter and find
in you a fire of sympathy, kindness, and good-will.

Thus cold hands may find warmth, and souls that are frozen for want of
love and sympathy may be sheltered and refreshed, and we shall find that
in showing love to a stranger we have been ministering to our dear Lord
Himself, who said: "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of the least of these
my brethren, ye did it unto Me."

PRAYER - Help me, Blessed Lord, to bear the infirmities of the weak, to
succour those that are over-borne in the fight of life, and to bear the
burdens of others. AMEN. (F B Meyer. Our Daily Walk)

Hebrews 13:2
God's Love On A Plate

During His life on earth, Jesus chose to identify with poor and destitute
people. He lived as one who had no place to call home (Mt. 8:20), and His
ministry was marked by compassion for the needy.

In her book Hidden Art, Edith Schaeffer of L'Abri Fellowship tells of
feeding the occasional vagrant who would stop at her back door and ask,
"May I have a cup of coffee, ma'am, and maybe some bread?"

Edith would invite him to sit down, then go in to prepare a tray of food
fit for a king: steaming soup and thick sandwiches, cut and arranged
artfully on a plate with garnishes. The children would make a tiny
bouquet, and if it was dusk, add a candle.

In amazement the man would gasp, "For me?" "Yes," Edith would answer, "and
coffee will be ready in a minute. This Gospel of John is for you too. Take
it with you. It really is very important."

In my kitchen hangs this saying: "Food is God's love made edible."
Certainly those vagrants at Edith's door experienced God's love through
her and her family.

How about serving up God's love to someone? Through your generosity you
will be serving Christ--and perhaps, you may be serving an angel in
disguise (Heb. 13:2). --JEY

Love is giving for the world's needs,
Love is sharing as the Spirit leads,
Love is caring when the world cries,
Love is compassion with Christlike eyes. --Brandt

Food is God's love made edible

Hebrews 13:5
Souls And Wallets

The book
of Hebrews strikes a strange note for men and women living with the values
of the 21st century. "Let your conduct be without covetousness," the
writer urged, and "be content with such things as you have" (13:5). He
wasn't saying that having money is a sin, but it can be a problem. Our
world has bought into the myth that riches and contentment go together,
that they're almost the same thing. Yet, many wealthy people who boast
large bank accounts are not content. They always want more, and they live
in dread that they will lose what they have.

"Be content with such things as you have." Well, what do you have? Do you
immediately think of what's in your savings account or stock portfolio?
You are looking in the wrong place. The writer of Hebrews said that if you
live with faith in the Lord of eternity, you have Him. He has promised, "I
will never leave you nor forsake you" (13:5). You have Him, so you can say
with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do
to me?" (v.6).

If you have everything else but the Lord, you don't have much at all. If
you have the Lord's presence and little else, you can be content. Better
to have a satisfied soul than a thick wallet. —HWR —Haddon W. Robinson

O Lord, help us to be content
With all that we possess,
And may we show our gratitude
With heartfelt thankfulness. —Sper

Contentment is priceless.

Hebrews 13:5
Loneliness

From time to time, lonely people
call me to share their problems. One man, who professes faith in Christ,
is struggling to live a pure life. Whenever he falls into sin, he needs
reassurance of God's forgiveness.

Another person who calls is a woman who has had some bad experiences with
men. She has to be assured that God still loves her.

Then there's a young woman with a physical disability. She lives alone
because she is treated badly at home.

All these people have two things in common: they've felt the pain of
rejection, and they are lonely. But it's loneliness that stands out as
their greatest problem.

Loneliness can't be cured just by being with people, seeing a counselor,
or talking on the phone. What's needed is friendship. That's where we who
are not lonely can help. We must befriend lonely people.

Just waiting for someone to become a friend, however, is not the way to
find the cure for loneliness. Hebrews 13:1-6 does not mention this
problem, but it does give the answer. We must focus our attention on Jesus
Christ. He promises to be a helper who will never leave nor forsake us
(vv. 5-6).

Jesus always listens and always cares. He will help you make it through
any situation.-- Herbert Vander Lugt

When solitude's burden would weigh down the soul
And feelings of loneliness o'er us would roll,
The Savior continues to stay by our side
To strengthen, to comfort, to help, and to guide.-- Dennis J. De Haan

Jesus cares.

Hebrews 13:5
Who Holds The Rope?

Some years ago I read an account
that went something like this:

A group of scientists and botanists were exploring remote regions of the
Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they noticed through
binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science
was incalculable. But it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides.
To get the flower someone had to be lowered over the cliff on a rope.

A curious young boy was watching nearby, and the scientists told him they
would pay him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to
retrieve the flower below.

The boy took one long look down the steep, dizzy depths and said, "I'll be
back in a minute." A short time later he returned, followed by a
gray-haired man. Approaching the botanist, the boy said, "I'll go over
that cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope. He's my
dad."

Oh, that God might give us the faith of that boy! Have you learned to
trust the Lord like that, my friend? If anyone else holds the rope, I dare
not go. But since Jesus is holding me fast, I can never doubt. Are you
willing to say, "If my Father holds the rope, I shall not fear"? --M. R.
De Haan

He holds my hand, this wonderful Savior,
And He is mine;
So why should I fear when I know He's so near,
And I know that His hand holds mine? --Smith

Fear fades when we trust our Father.

Hebrews 13:5
A Friend To The End

Traditionally, medical schools have
trained their students to help patients live, while offering little
instruction in helping them face death. But that is changing with the
addition of courses in end-of-life care. Physicians are now taught that
when they have used all their medical expertise without achieving a cure,
they should seize the opportunity to stand compassionately beside their
dying patients and be a friend.

Death frightens many of us and makes us feel awkward in the presence of a
terminally ill person. But our greatest opportunities to help someone in
Jesus' name may come during a person's final days on earth.

The Bible speaks of a friendship that knows no limits. "A friend loves at
all times," said the wise man (Proverbs 17:17). And "there is a friend who
sticks closer than a brother" (18:24). Jesus said, "Greater love has no
one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John 15:13).

Jesus is both our Great Physician and our Friend, and He promised that He
would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He calls us to stand
with our friends and family in His name as their earthly journey nears its
end. That's what a true friend would do. —David C. McCasland

A friend is he who always knows
When the cold wind of trouble blows,
Who comes in dark and stormy night
With friendship's glowing lamp alight. —Mason

A true friend stays true to the end.

Hebrews 13:5
You Are Never Alone

Jesus is just as real today as He
was when He walked on this earth. Even though He doesn't move among us
physically, by the Holy Spirit He is here, there, everywhere—a continuous,
living presence—outside of us and inside of us.

That may be a terrifying thought for some. Perhaps you don't like
yourself, or you're contemplating all the bad things you've done.
Insecurity and sin can create a sense of fear, awkwardness, and clumsiness
in Jesus' presence. But think of what you know about Him.

Despite what you are or what you may have done, He loves you (Romans 5:8;
1 John 4:7-11). He will never leave you nor forsake you (John 14:18;
Hebrews 13:5). Others may not think much of you or invite you to spend
time with them, but Jesus does (Matthew 11:28). Others may not like the
way you look, but He looks at your heart (1 Samuel 16:7; Luke 24:38).
Others may think you're a bother because you're old and in the way, but He
will love you to the end (Romans 8:35-39).

Jesus loves you in spite of all the conditions that cause others to turn
away. He wants to change you to be like Him, but He loves you as you are
and will never abandon you. You are family; you will never, ever be alone.
—David H. Roper

Jesus shares your worries and cares
You'll never be left all alone,
For He stands beside you to comfort and guide you,
He always looks out for His own. —Brandt

If you know Jesus, you'll never walk alone.

Hebrews 13:5
And It Was So

The words are repeated several times
in Genesis 1, the story of creation: "And it was so."

Whatever God said-it happened. "Let there be light . . . . Let there be a
firmament . . . . Let the earth bring forth grass . . . ." Then, each
time, the words: "And it was so." God spoke the words, and it became a
reality.

As I read about this beginning of our world and the power of God, I
started to think about some other things God and His Son Jesus have
said-things we can count on.

When Jesus was talking about His followers, He said, "I give them eternal
life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of
My hand" (John 10:28). If we have put our trust in Him, we can be assured
that we have eternal life right now and will live with Him forever.

The writer to the Hebrews said, "Be content with such things as you have.
For [God] Himself has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'"
(Hebrews 13:5). We can be sure that our needs will be met and that we
won't be left alone.

One of Jesus' most comforting promises is "I will come again and receive
you to Myself" (John 14:3). He said it; we can believe it and wait
confidently for that day.

Count on God's word. It will be so.—Anne Cetas

No matter what may come to pass,
God's precious Word still stands,
This universe is held intact
Within His mighty hands. -Williams

God said it. I believe it. That settles it.

Hebrews 13:5
Strange Territory

When my son Stephen was 8, he was
invited to stay overnight at a cousin's house. It was his first time away
from home and it all sounded like an exciting adventure. But when my wife
and I took him there, he started getting that homesick feeling. With tears
glistening in his eyes and his voice quivering, he said, "Mommy, I don't
feel so good. I'd better go home with you."

My wife responded, "It's up to you, but I know you'd have a good time."

"But Mommy," Stephen whimpered, "they said they were going to climb a big
hill tomorrow, and I've never been there before!"

We too can become fearful sometimes as we look ahead, because we've "never
been there before." But just as the Lord took care of Joshua and Israel
(Joshua 3), He will take care of us.

Perhaps right now you are anxious about some new and untried pathway on
which the Lord is leading you. Then listen to God's Word and take courage:
"I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). "The Lord is my
shepherd; I shall not want. . . . He leads me in the paths of
righteousness for His name's sake" (Psalm 23:1,3).

Place your hand by faith in your heavenly Father's hand, and let Him lead
the way. —Richard De Haan

God does not ask us to go where He does not lead.

Hebrews 13:5
What Do You Fear?

One of Grimm's fairy tales is about
a rather dimwitted young man who didn't understand what it meant to
shudder in fear. People attempted to shock him by putting him in all sorts
of terrifying situations—but to no avail. He finally did shudder, though
not out of fear. He was asleep when someone poured a bucket of cold water
and wiggling fish on top of him.

Something is wrong with us if we're never afraid. Fear is the natural
human reaction to any difficult or dangerous undertaking, and God doesn't
condemn it. Neither does He want us to be crippled by fear. Jesus' words
to His disciples on more than one occasion were, "Do not be afraid" (Luke
5:10; 12:4; John 6:20). In each case He used a verb tense that suggests
continuance. In other words, He told them, "Don't keep on fearing."

We need not be overcome by our fear, nor should we ever say no to doing
what we know God wants us to do merely because we are fearful. God can
turn our fear into fortitude. We can trust God and "not be afraid" (Psalm
56:11).

Courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it. So let's resist
our fear and meet it with faith in our Lord, for He has said, "I will
never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). —David H. Roper

Do not fear the darkness that is gathering all around,
For the Lord is with you, and in Him true peace is found;
When you're facing trouble, or when tragedy seems near,
Jesus is the only one to drive away your fear. —Hess

We can face any fear when we know the Lord is near

Hebrews 13:5
God's Astonishing Promise

The writer to the Hebrews quotes God
as saying to His people, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews
13:5). How does that strike you? Is it just some pleasant piety that
evokes a wide yawn?

This isn't like saying we have coffee with the President or a Supreme
Court justice. Knowing people like that would say something significant
about us. But to claim that God is with us every moment of every day, as
close as our skin, in every turn of life, tear-stained or drenched in
smiles—some would say that borders on insanity.

Yet throughout history men and women have staked their lives on that
truth. Abraham, Moses, Rahab, Joshua, David, Esther, just to name a few.
The promise was true for them, but how can we know it's true for us?

It is true for us because of Jesus. By His coming, He says, "I want to be
with you; I gave Myself to you; I gave Myself for you. Do you really think
I would ever forsake you?"

How do you respond to this astonishing promise? Say it's too good to be
true. Say it sounds unbelievable. But don't ignore it. In your hurts, your
fears, your struggles, your temptations, there is no more wonderful
promise than this: "I will never leave you nor forsake you."—Haddon W.
Robinson

Though all around is darkness,
Earthly joys have flown;
My Savior whispers His promise
Never to leave me alone. —Anon.

No matter where you go, God goes with you.

Hebrews 13:5
Never Alone

Robinson Crusoe, the chief character
in a novel by Daniel Defoe, was shipwrecked and stranded on an uninhabited
island. Life was hard, but he found hope and comfort when he turned to the
Word of God.

Crusoe said, "One morning, being very sad, I opened the Bible upon these
words, 'I will never, never leave thee, nor forsake thee.' Immediately it
occurred that these words were to me; why else should they be directed in
such a manner, just at the moment when I was mourning over my condition,
as one forsaken of God and man?

"'Well then,' said I, 'if God does not forsake me, . . . what matters it,
though the world should all forsake me . . . ?' From this moment I began
to conclude in my mind that it was possible for me to be more happy in
this forsaken, solitary condition than it was probable that I should ever
have been in any other state in the world; and with this thought I was
going to give thanks to God for bringing me to this place."

Have you been forsaken by a friend, a child, a spouse? God has said, "I
will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). So you too can say
with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do
to me?" (v.6). —David H. Roper

When all around me is darkness
And earthly joys have flown,
My Savior whispers His promise
Never to leave me alone. —Anon.

Fear will leave us when we remember that God is always with us.

Hebrews 13:5
God's Answer To Loneliness

Most of us have experienced
loneliness in some form or another. I remember the deep sense of aloneness
that swept over me during my first day in the military when I was exposed
to almost constant cursing and foul language.

People with physical disabilities have said that their greatest pain is
loneliness. It is also felt by parents who have been neglected by their
children, by husbands or wives who have lost their mate, and by people
from a minority group who have been excluded from social activities.

If we want to be followers of our Savior, we should be reaching out to the
lonely all around us. But we can't be with them all the time, nor can we
fully know their pain. Our presence may help, but we are never enough.
Only God can meet the needs of the lonely. And here is the good news. In
Jesus He has revealed Himself as "Immanuel," which means, "God with us."

One day G. Campbell Morgan visited an elderly woman who lived alone.
Before leaving, he read, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the
age" (Matthew 28:20). "A great promise," he said. With a twinkle in her
eye she retorted, "Dr. Morgan, that's not a promise. It's reality!" For
her, Immanuel was the ultimate cure for loneliness. —HVL —Herbert Vander
Lugt

Though all around me is darkness
And earthly joys have flown,
My Savior whispers His promise—
Never to leave me alone. —Anon.

Hebrews 13:5
Yesterday And Tomorrow

On New Year's Eve 1916, a chaplain
spoke to a gathering of British Commonwealth soldiers in Cairo, Egypt.
Standing before men whose lives had been turned upside down by World War
I, Oswald Chambers talked to them about yesterday and tomorrow.

Chambers said, "At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that
God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise from remembering
the yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God's grace is apt to be checked
by the memory of yesterday's sins and blunders. But God is the God of our
yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them in order to turn the past
into a ministry of spiritual culture for the future. God reminds us of the
past lest we get into a shallow security in the present. . . . Let the
past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the irreparable
past in His hands, and step out into the irresistible future with Him" (My
Utmost For His Highest ).

God promised Israel, "The Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel
will be your rear guard" (Isaiah 52:12). We too can take comfort in
knowing that our God will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

As we begin a new year, we can place ourselves—and all our yesterdays and
tomorrows—safely in His care. —D C M

SUCH THINGS as ye have, plus! The Greek literally means that there is
within us an undeveloped power only awaiting the call, and there will be
enough. I may be speaking to people who wish that they had more money, or
more brains, or more influence. They dream of the lives they would live,
of the deeds they would do, if only they were better circumstanced. But
God says No! You have present within the narrow confines of your own reach
the qualities that the world is wanting. Use them, and be content with the
things that you have. You have never explored the resources of your own
soul.

"Such things as ye have"--Moses had only a rod, but a rod with God can
open the Red Sea. David had only five pebbles, but these with God brought
down Goliath. The woman had only a little pot of oil, but that pot of oil
with God paid all her debts. The poor widow was scraping the bottom of the
barrel, but with God the handful of meal kept her child, herself, and the
prophet until the rain came. The boy had only five tiny loaves and two
small fish, but with Jesus they were enough for five thousand men, beside
women and children. EstiMatte what you have got, and then count God into
the bargain! He never lets go your hand. He will never leave nor forsake
those that trust in Him!

Therefore be content! The most glorious deeds that have blessed and
enriched the world have not been done by wealthy men. Our Lord had none of
this world's goods; the apostles had neither silver nor gold; Carey was
only a poor cobbler; Bunyan a travelling tinker; Wesley left two silver
spoons. It is not money, but human love and God that is needed. Therefore
do not be covetous; do not hoard, but give! Be strong and content. With
good courage say: "The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear"--for life or
death, for sorrow or joy!

PRAYER

The soul that to Jesus has fled for
repose,
He cannot, He will not, desert to its foes.
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to take,
He'll never, no never, no never forsake! AMEN. (F B Meyer. Our Daily Walk)

Hebrews 13:5
Morning and evening : Daily readings (February 21 AM)

If we can only grasp these words by
faith, we have an all-conquering weapon in our hand. What doubt will not
be slain by this two-edged sword? What fear is there which shall not fall
smitten with a deadly wound before this arrow from the bow of God’s
covenant? Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death; will not
the corruptions within, and the snares without; will not the trials from
above, and the temptations from beneath, all seem but light afflictions,
when we can hide ourselves beneath the bulwark of “He hath said”? Yes;
whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, “He
hath said” must be our daily resort. And this may teach us the extreme
value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word
which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and
therefore you miss its comfort.

You are like prisoners in a dungeon,
and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you
might be free; but if you will not look for it, you may remain a prisoner
still, though liberty is so near at hand. There may be a potent medicine
in the great pharmacopoeia of Scripture, and you may yet continue sick
unless you will examine and search the Scriptures to discover what “He
hath said.” Should you not, besides reading the Bible, store your memories
richly with the promises of God? You can recollect the sayings of great
men; you treasure up the verses of renowned poets; ought you not to be
profound in your knowledge of the words of God, so that you may be able to
quote them readily when you would solve a difficulty, or overthrow a
doubt? Since “He hath said” is the source of all wisdom, and the fountain
of all comfort, let it dwell in you richly, as “A well of water, springing
up unto everlasting life.” So shall you grow healthy, strong, and happy in
the divine life. (Spurgeon, C. H.)

Hebrews 13:5Morning and evening :
Daily readings (February 23 AM

No promise is of private
interpretation. Whatever God has said to any one saint, he has said to
all. When he opens a well for one, it is that all may drink. When he
openeth a granary-door to give out food, there may be some one starving
man who is the occasion of its being opened, but all hungry saints may
come and feed too. Whether he gave the word to Abraham or to Moses,
matters not, O believer; he has given it to thee as one of the covenanted
seed. There is not a high blessing too lofty for thee, nor a wide mercy
too extensive for thee. Lift up now thine eyes to the north and to the
south, to the east and to the west, for all this is thine. Climb to
Pisgah’s top, and view the utmost limit of the divine promise, for the
land is all thine own. There is not a brook of living water of which thou
mayst not drink. If the land floweth with milk and honey, eat the honey
and drink the milk, for both are thine. Be thou bold to believe, for he
hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”In this promise,
God gives to his people everything. “I will never leave thee.” Then no
attribute of God can cease to be engaged for us. Is he mighty? He will
show himself strong on the behalf of them that trust him. Is he love? Then
with lovingkindness will he have mercy upon us. Whatever attributes may
compose the character of Deity, every one of them to its fullest extent
shall be engaged on our side. To put everything in one, there is nothing
you can want, there is nothing you can ask for, there is nothing you can
need in time or in eternity, there is nothing living, nothing dying, there
is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world, there is nothing now,
nothing at the resurrection-morning, nothing in heaven which is not
contained in this text—“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
(Spurgeon, C. H)

Hebrews 13:5Absolute Assurance

SEVERAL times in the Scriptures the Lord hath said this. He has often
repeated it to make our assurance doubly sure. Let us never harbor a doubt
of it. In itself the promise is specially emphatic. In the Greek it has
five negatives, each one definitely shutting out the possibility of the
Lord’s ever leaving one of His people so that he can justly feel forsaken
of his God. This priceless Scripture does not promise us exemption from
trouble, but it does secure us against desertion. We may be called to
traverse strange ways, but we shall always have our Lord’s company,
assistance, and provision. We need not covet money, for we shall always
have our God, and God is better than gold. His favor is better than
fortune.

We ought surely to be content with
such things as we have, for he who has God has more than all the world
besides. What can we have beyond the Infinite? What more can we desire
than Almighty Goodness.

Come, my heart; if God says He will
never leave thee nor forsake thee, be thou much in prayer for grace, that
thou mayest never leave thy Lord, nor even for a moment forsake His ways.
(Spurgeon, C. Faith's Checkbook.)

Hebrews 13:5-6
Lifetime Guarantee

Three years ago I bought a suitcase
with a lifetime guarantee. "We don't care who breaks it," the manufacturer
said, "we'll repair or replace it free—forever." To its credit, the
company repaired it twice, just as promised. But a few weeks ago I learned
that the business had filed for bankruptcy and its future was in doubt. If
the company goes under, so does the guarantee.

In a world where we can't always depend on guarantees, there is one
promise we can trust. Throughout Scripture we find the Lord's pledge to be
with His people. In Deuteronomy 31 we read Moses' assuring words to
Joshua: "The Lord . . . will be with you, He will not leave you nor
forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (v.8).

This promise is repeated in the New Testament: "He Himself has said, 'I
will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we may boldly say: 'The Lord is
my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:5-6). The
promise of God's unfailing presence with us is the key to living with
confidence and contentment.

No matter how many pledges are broken by people, God's promises will last
through all time and eternity. Because He is eternal, He can give us an
eternal guarantee. —DCM —David C. McCasland

Sweetest of all life's blessings,
Communion with Christ above,
Assurance of His presence,
His matchless, eternal love. —Anon.

Every promise of God comes with an eternal guarantee.

Hebrews 13:6﻿
Fear Only God

BECAUSE God will never leave nor
forsake us, we may well be content with such things as we have. Since the
Lord is ours, we cannot be left without a friend, a treasure, and a
dwelling place. This assurance may make us feel quite independent of men.
Under such high patronage, we do not feel tempted to cringe before our
fellow men and ask of them permission to call our lives our own; but what
we say, we boldly say and defy contradiction.

He who fears God has nothing else to
fear. We should stand in such awe of the living Lord that all the threats
that can be used by the proudest persecutor should have no more effect
upon us than the whistling of the wind. Man in these days cannot do so
much against us as he could when the apostle wrote the verse at the head
of this page. Racks and stakes are out of fashion. Giant Pope cannot burn
the pilgrims now. If the followers of false teachers try cruel mockery and
scorn, we do not wonder at it, for the men of this world cannot love the
heavenly seed. What then? We must bear the world’s scorn. It breaks no
bones. God helping us, let us be bold; and when the world rages let it
rage, but let us not fear it. (Spurgeon, C. Faith's Checkbook)

Hebrews 13:8
Tomorrow's Terrors

Peter Marshall, whose dynamic
preaching attracted crowds of people, died suddenly on the morning of
January 25, 1949, at the age of 46. In one of his sermons he had said:
"When the clock strikes for me, I shall go, not one minute early, and not
one minute late. Until then, there is nothing to fear. I know that the
promises of God are true, for they have been fulfilled in my life time and
time again. Jesus still teaches and guides and protects and heals and
comforts, and still wins our complete trust and our love."

Do you and I share that same fear-dispelling conviction? Can each of us,
like David, say to our Lord, "My times are in Your hand"? (Psalm 31:15).
Are we confident that God holds us in His almighty hands? Can we boldly
say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
(Hebrews 13:6).

True, we may have concern about the days ahead. As Scripture reminds us,
we "do not know what will happen tomorrow" (James 4:14). But we do know
that whatever happens He will always be with us (Hebrews 13:5). That
knowledge can lighten any burden of worry about the future.

Some anxiety about the process of dying is normal. Yet, by the grace of
God and by the comfort of His Spirit, we can face tomorrow's terrors with
courage. —VCG —Vernon C Grounds

I don't know about tomorrow,
Nor what coming days will bring;
But I know my Lord is with me,
And His praise my heart will sing. —Fitzhugh

Worry can do a lot of things to you; prayer can do a lot of things for
you.

Hebrews 13:8
Our Changing World

Change is one thing we can be sure
of in this life. Our relationships change as we move to new places,
experience illness, and ultimately face death. Even the cells in our
bodies are always in the process of change. When cells wear out, most are
replaced by new ones. This is especially noticeable with our skin—we shed
and regrow outer skin cells about every 27 days.

Yes, change is the one certainty in our world. Henry Lyte's melancholy
line in his hymn "Abide With Me" is true: "Change and decay in all around
I see." But the hymn immediately adds, "O Thou who changest not, abide
with me!"

By faith in Jesus Christ we can have a relationship with the unchanging
God, who says of Himself in Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, I do not change."
We can depend on God to be the same forever, as the psalmist says (Psalm
102:27). Hebrews 13:8 adds this reassuring testimony: "Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today, and forever." He is our firm foundation, who can
give us confidence and security in this changing world.

We creatures, caught up in the swirling tide of time, can rest our souls
on the everlasting arms, which will never let us go.—Vernon C Grounds

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day,
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me! —Lyte

To face life's changes, look to the unchanging God.

Hebrews 13:8
Always the Same

Christ is always the same.
Christ’s person never changes. Should He come on earth to visit us again,
as surely He will, we should find Him the same Jesus, as loving, as
approachable, as generous, and as kind. Though He will be arrayed in
nobler garments than He wore when first He visited earth, though He will
no more be the Man of Sorrows and grief’s acquaintance (see ﻿Isaiah
53:3﻿), yet He will be the same person, unchanged by all His glories, His
triumphs, and His joys. We bless Christ that, amid His heavenly splendors,
His person is just the same and His nature unaffected. “﻿Jesus Christ the
same yesterday, and to day, and for ever﻿” (﻿Heb. 13:8﻿). (Spurgeon, C. H.
Daily Help)

Hebrews 13:8
The Timeless Name

Whether the company is Twentieth
Century Fox in Hollywood or Twentieth Century Data in Dallas, time has
caught up with these companies and they're a century behind. Should they
change their names? Consultant Frank Delano says, "You can't do business
in the 21st century with a 20th-century name. You need a name that is
really universal with no limitations."

Through the ages, Christians have known and worshiped a Savior who is not
bound by time. His name? In Revelation 1:8, Jesus Christ identified
Himself by saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the
End, . . . who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." He called
Himself, "the First and the Last" (vv.11,17). And in verse 18, "I am He
who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore."

Do clocks and calendars leave you exhausted? Jesus Christ is the Master of
time. Has death brought the pain of separation? Jesus Christ is Lord of
eternity. Are you facing unwanted changes? Jesus Christ is "the same
yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). Have failures filled you
with despair? Jesus Christ is risen, the Victor over death and the grave!

It's true. In every century His name is universal, without limitation.
Jesus Christ is the timeless name. —David C. McCasland

People don't like to be fooled, but
it happens so often that it might seem as if they do.

Far too many people fall for crooked schemes that cost them money,
endanger their health, or waste their time.

It happens to elderly people when they trust the friendly, persuasive
person who comes to the door selling a too-good-to-be-true product. It
happens when a shyster tells a couple that he's from the bank, and they
need to withdraw money and give it to him to fix a bank error. It happens
when a person with health problems buys hundreds of dollars' worth of
bogus medicine.

It can happen to us too—in spiritual matters. We can be fooled by
deceitful presentations that make guarantees far beyond what God has
clearly promised. But this isn't anything new. Paul warned about this kind
of deception in Colossians 2:8.

So, how do you protect yourself from those who make religious claims that
God's Word does not support? By being "rooted and built up in [Christ
Jesus] and established in the faith, as you have been taught" (v.7).

Whether listening to a salesperson or to a preacher, be discerning. Don't
be fooled. —JDB —Dave Branon

Christ is all we need, His truth complete—
The world will try to add, subtract, distort;
Cling to what you know, and trust God's Word,
Don't let yourself believe a false report. —Carbaugh

Feeding on God's truth will keep you from swallowing a lie.

Hebrews 13:13Morning and evening :
Daily readings (April 6 AM)

Jesus, bearing his cross, went forth
to suffer without the gate. The Christian’s reason for leaving the camp of
the world’s sin and religion is not because he loves to be singular, but
because Jesus did so; and the disciple must follow his Master. Christ was
“not of the world:” his life and his testimony were a constant protest
against conformity with the world. Never was such overflowing affection
for men as you find in him; but still he was separate from sinners. In
like manner Christ’s people must “go forth unto him.” They must take their
position “without the camp,” as witness-bearers for the truth. They must
be prepared to tread the straight and narrow path. They must have bold,
unflinching, lion-like hearts, loving Christ first, and his truth next,
and Christ and his truth beyond all the world. Jesus would have his people
“go forth without the camp” for their own sanctification. You cannot grow
in grace to any high degree while you are conformed to the world. The life
of separation may be a path of sorrow, but it is the highway of safety;
and though the separated life may cost you many pangs, and make every day
a battle, yet it is a happy life after all. No joy can excel that of the
soldier of Christ: Jesus reveals himself so graciously, and gives such
sweet refreshment, that the warrior feels more calm and peace in his daily
strife than others in their hours of rest. The highway of holiness is the
highway of communion. It is thus we shall hope to win the crown if we are
enabled by divine grace faithfully to follow Christ “without the camp.”
The crown of glory will follow the cross of separation. A moment’s shame
will be well recompensed by eternal honour; a little while of
witness-bearing will seem nothing when we are “for ever with the Lord.”
(Spurgeon, C. H.)

Hebrews 13:14
Glad To Get Home!

In wintertime, a condition known as
a "whiteout" sometimes occurs along the Lake Michigan shoreline. The air
becomes so filled with powdery snow that you can't see more than a few
feet ahead. You feel totally helpless, especially if you're driving, and
that's what we were doing on a bitterly cold December day.

Our family had been invited to my sister's house for Christmas dinner. As
we headed west toward Lake Michigan, the weather became treacherous, but
we made it to our destination. Later, however, as we were driving home
after dark, the situation grew even worse. The expressway was covered with
ice, traffic slowed to a crawl, and several cars were in the ditch. Then
all at once we were enveloped by a brief whiteout. Believe me, it was
frightening. After a slow, tedious journey, we finally reached Grand
Rapids and pulled into our driveway. I think every member of the family
said, "I'm sure glad to get home!"

I wonder if we'll have a similar feeling when we enter heaven. The
dangerous "whiteouts" of our earthly journey will be over. The
temptations, stresses, and failures will all be in the past. Best of all,
we'll be safe with our Savior.

Yes, we'll be so glad to get home!—David C. Egner

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We'll sing and shout the victory. —Hewitt

Heaven for the Christian is best spelled H-O-M-E.

Hebrews 13:14
To Be Continued

Do you like continued stories? Let's
say you're reading a magazine article or watching a television program for
half an hour, and you come to the place where the hero plunges into the
water to rescue his drowning sweetheart. Then you're left hanging in the
air with the words: "To be continued." How disappointing!

I have quite a different response to the inscription on the tombstone of a
follower of Christ. It reads: "To Be Continued Above."

Yes, this life is but the first chapter of the book of life. Whether that
chapter is long or short--it is not the end, but it is to be continued.
For the believer, it will be continued in heaven with our Lord. There is
no break between the chapters; you don't have to wait till next month's
installment or tune in next week to hear the concluding episode. Chapter
two follows chapter one without interruption. It is continued immediately,
for "to be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord" (2 Cor.
5:8).

What will the next chapter be for you? It will be written sooner or later,
either in heaven or in hell. Remember, when your time comes to die, that
is not the end. Your story is "to be continued"--but where? —M.R. De Haan

Life's fleeting days will soon be o'er
When death ends all that's gone before;
Yet life in Christ continues still,
For all who lived to do His will. --DJD

Death is the last chapter of time, but the first chapter of eternity.

Hebrews 13:15
Be Filled With Thankfulness

Throughout history, many cultures
have set aside a time for expressing their thankfulness. In the US,
Thanksgiving Day originated with the pilgrims. In the midst of extreme
hardship, loss of loved ones, and meager supplies, they still believed
they were blessed. They chose to celebrate God's blessings by sharing a
meal with Native Americans who had helped them survive.

We know we've lost the spirit of that original celebration when we catch
ourselves complaining that our Thanksgiving Day has been "spoiled" by bad
weather, disappointing food, or a bad cold. It's we who are
spoiled—spoiled by the very blessings that should make every day a day of
thanksgiving, whatever our circumstances.

Billy Graham wrote, "Ingratitude is a sin, just as surely as is lying or
stealing or immorality or any other sin condemned by the Bible." He then
quoted Romans 1:21, one of the Bible's indictments against rebellious
humanity. Then Dr. Graham added, "Nothing turns us into bitter, selfish,
dissatisfied people more quickly than an ungrateful heart. And nothing
will do more to restore contentment and the joy of our salvation than a
true spirit of thankfulness."

Which condition describes you?—Joanie Yoder

A grumbling mood of discontent
Gives way to thankfulness
When we consider all God's gifts
And all that we possess. —Sper

Gratitude is a God-honoring attitude.

Hebrews 13:15
THE BLESSING OF THANKFULNESS

SOME PEOPLE seem born with a sullen and feverish temper, and it is very
difficult for them to brighten into smiles and songs. But whatever our
natural disposition may be, if we belong to Christ it is our bounden duty
to cultivate a thankful heart. A melancholy person has a bad effect upon
others. It is miserable to have to work with or under a confirmed
pessimist. Nothing is right, nothing pleases, there is no word of praise
or encouragement. Once, when I was at Aden, I watched a gang of Lascars
trans-shipping the mails. It was a pleasure to see them, one after
another, carrying the bags cheerily because their leader kept them all the
time singing as they did their work. If, instead of finding fault with our
employees or servants we would look out for things for which we could
commend and thank them, we should probably find a miraculous change in
their attitude.

The advantage of joy and gladness is that it is a source of strength to
the individual soul, and to all others who come within its range, and
commends our Christianity! Sidney Smith says: "I once gave a lady two and
twenty recipes against melancholy; one was a bright fire; another, to
remember all the pleasant things said to her; another, to keep a box of
sugar-plums on the chimney-piece, and a kettle simmering on the hob. I
thought this mere trifling at the moment, but have in after life
discovered how true it is, that these little pleasures often banish
melancholy better than more exalted objects." We may interpret the advice
of this humorist and essayist by turning into joyous praise all the
incidents of our daily life, arising with gratitude and thankfulness from
every good and perfect gift to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
world is sad, and has to pay her jesters and entertainers; it is a mystery
to her that the face of the Christian should be bright and smiling,
although the fig-tree does not blossom, and there is no fruit in the vine.
Let us count up our treasures and blessings, and we shall find that even
in the saddest and loneliest life there is something to turn our sorrow
into singing (2 Co 6:10).

PRAYER - Help us, O Lord, to rejoice always; to pray without ceasing, and
in everything to give thanks. AMEN.

Hebrews 13:15
THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

THE HUNDREDTH Psalm is rightly entitled "A Psalm of Thanksgiving" (R.V.).
The Psalmist calls for a "joyful noise," i.e. an audible expression of
worship. Do not be content with a thankful heart, but express it! It is
good to let God have "the fruit of our lips." As a bird will awaken the
whole choir of a woodland glade, so the soul really aglow with loving
adoration will spread its own contagion of song. How often Christian
people hinder the progress of Christianity by their dullness, gloominess,
and depression. His service is perfect freedom, and if we delight
ourselves in the Lord, we should serve Him with gladness!

It is very important to maintain the habit of regular church-going because
of its opportunity for worship. Let us "enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise!" By meditation and prayer
let us ask that we may be accounted worthy to stand in His Presence, and
offer praise and adoration to the Most High God, mingled with the
fragrance of our Saviour's Name (Rev8:3-4).

"'The Lord is good!" There are many mysteries, and much pain and sorrow in
the world. We must dare to believe and affirm the goodness of God beneath
all the distressing elements of modem life. With His goodness are combined
His mercy and His truth. Let men do their worst, "His truth endureth to
all generations." It is an impregnable Rock, on which the waves of sin can
make no sensible impression. What comfort there is in knowing that equally
His mercy is everlasting. We need so much patience, forbearance, and
longsuffering, that if God's mercy were anything less we should despair,
but it is extended to every generation till Time shall be no more!

A man touring a rural area of the Far East saw a boy pulling a crude plow
while an old man held the handles and guided it through the rice paddy.
The visitor commented, "I suppose they are poor."

"Yes," said his guide. "When their church was built, they wanted to give
something to help but they had no money. So they sold their only ox. This
spring they are pulling the plow themselves." The tourist was deeply
challenged by their sacrificial gift.

Under Old Testament law, God required animal sacrifices, which pointed to
Christ dying for our sins. His death brought them to an end, but the Lord
still desires to receive spiritual sacrifices from His people.

God puts no merit in any attempts to earn His favor or call attention to
oneself. But He delights in deeds that spring from faith that works
through love (Gal. 5:6). They are spiritual sacrifices that come from
giving ourselves completely to Him (Rom. 12:1-2). He is pleased when we
continually give thanks in Jesus' name, do good, and share with others
(Heb. 13:15-16).

Some spiritual sacrifices will be costly. But what is gained--His
praise--is always greater than what is given up. --DJD

The gifts that we may give,
The deeds that we may do
Most truly honor Christ
When self is given too. --DJD

When Christ's love fills your heart,the more you give, the more you gain.

Hebrews 13:15
Say So

Mel Trotter was a drunken barber
whose salvation not only turned his own life around but also changed
thousands of others. He was saved in 1897 in Chicago at the Pacific Garden
Mission, and not long afterward was named director of the City Rescue
Mission in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Thirty-five years later, at a meeting at the mission, Mel Trotter was
conducting "Say-So" time. He asked people in the crowd to testify how
Jesus had saved them. That night, a 14-year-old boy stood up and said
simply, "I'm glad Jesus saved me. Amen." Trotter remarked, "That's the
finest testimony I ever heard." Encouraged by those words from such an
important leader, that teenager, Mel Johnson, went on to become a
Christian leader in his own right.

Young Mel was encouraged to say so, and he did. Six little words, followed
by an encouraging comment. A testimony and an affirmation led to a life of
service for God.

Let's look for opportunities to offer "the fruit of our lips," to tell
others that Jesus is Lord and that He saved us. Tell your own salvation
story, and ask others to share theirs as well—as a "sacrifice of praise to
God" (Hebrews 13:15). Whether we are children, teens, or adults, we who
belong to Jesus Christ need to stand up and "say so."
—Dave Branon

Tell me the story of Jesus,
Write on my heart every word;
Tell me the story most precious,
Sweetest that ever was heard! —Crosby

The more you love Jesus, the more you'll talk about Him.

Hebrews 13:15Give Thanks And Remember

One of today's most popular
syndicated newspaper columns is "Dear Abby." Started in 1956 by Abigail
Van Buren, the advice column is written today by her daughter Jeanne
Phillips. In a recent edition, she included this Thanksgiving Prayer
written many years before by her mother:

O Heavenly Father:
We thank Thee for food
and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health
and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends
and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom
and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances
stir us to service.
That Thy gifts to us may be used
for others. Amen.

The words of this prayer echo the
clear teaching of Scripture. Our thanksgiving to God should always be
accompanied by thinking of those in need. "Therefore," said the writer to
the Hebrews, "by [Jesus] let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise
to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name"
(Hebrews 13:15).

But there is more to it than thankfulness. We are to put actions behind
our gratitude. "Do not forget to do good and to share, for with such
sacrifices God is well pleased" (v.16).

Be thankful for God's many blessings, but be sure to remember those who
have less.
—David C. McCasland

Serving others is a way of thanking God.

Hebrews 13:17
Getting Rid Of The Pastor

A Christian leader told about some
church members who came to him for advice. They wanted to know of a way to
get rid of their pastor. Sensing that they were not being fair, he gave
them these suggestions:

Look your pastor straight in the eye while he is preaching and say "Amen!"
once in a while. He'll preach himself to death.

Pat him on the back and tell him his good points. He'll work himself to
death.

Rededicate your life to Christ and ask your minister for a job to do.
He'll die of heart failure.

Get the church to pray for him. Soon he'll become so effective that a
larger church will take him off your hands.
If your pastor faithfully preaches God's Word and tries to live an
exemplary life, do all you can to support and encourage him. Of course, no
pastor is perfect, and sometimes a loving rebuke may be needed (1 Timothy
5:20). But a pastor carries a big responsibility (Hebrews 13:17), and a
faithful man of God is worthy of respect and generous financial support (1
Timothy 3:1; 5:17-18).

By the way, when did you last say to your pastor, "I'm grateful for you
and all you've done for me"? —Richard De Haan

A pastor leads best when his people get behind him.

Hebrews 13:17
Roast Preacher

People who
have "roast preacher" for Sunday dinner need a change of diet. And a
pastor who "chews out" his congregation needs to look again at his
mission. A caring preacher will build up his church, and a caring church
will build up its preacher.

In Hebrews 13:17, church leaders are called to watch over their flock as
those who must give account before God. That's a tall order, but it's what
God appoints them to do. And in the same verse, members of the
congregation are reminded of their responsibility to their leaders. They
are to be submissive to them and open to their correction. Their leaders
will then have joy rather than grief as they seek to be faithful in
carrying out their God-appointed duties.

How tragic that many church members have never learned this! All week long
they criticize their pastor, and on Sunday they listen negatively as he
preaches his heart out. Then they go home and have their favorite Sunday
dinner—not fried chicken, but roast preacher.

Whatever our place in the body of Christ, let's build others up through
mutual caring. Then instead of devouring one another, we will find joy in
seeing pastors and their people being nourished and fed by one another.
—Joanie Yoder —Joanie Yoder

The faithful pastor leads with love—
He serves the church for God above;
So may our criticism die,
And then his joy will multiply. —Branon

Pastors who preach God's Word need a good word from God's people.

Hebrews 13:20-21
DISLOCATED LIMBS

THE GREEK
word here rendered perfect really means "to put in joint, to complete." In
his original creation man's will was intended to register the Will of God,
to say Yes to it, and to pass the divine impulses and commandments to the
rest of our being. Sometimes on board ship, before the phone made it
possible for the captain to speak to every part of the ocean-liner, I have
heard Him quietly utter his orders to a subordinate officer beside him,
who in turn repeated them in a loud voice through a speaking-trumpet or
tube. That intermediary may represent the will which was intended to
receive its directions from the Will of God, and pass them throughout the
economy of our being. Such was our Lord's attitude throughout His earthly
life. He said: "My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me"; "I seek
not My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me"; "Nevertheless, not as
I will, but as Thou wilt."

But
in the Fall, the dominance of God's will and the loyal response of man's
will became disorganised; and the human will instead of functioning in
harmony with the Will of God, began to obey the will of the flesh in its
grosser or more refined forms. Not what God wills, but what 'T' Hill, has
become the working principle of the great majority. Thus it has come about
that the will, by constant misuse, has become dislocated, warped, "out of
joint." Tennyson says: "Our wills are ours to make them Thine!" Just so,
but they are too stubborn for some of us to manage. Hence the suggestion
that we should pass the Matttter over to the "God of Peace, who brought
again from the dead our Lord Jesus."

Sometimes at football, or on the ice, a
player may lose his balance, or be tripped up, and in the fall his
shoulder may become dislocated. His arm is still in the body, but out of
joint, so that it hangs useless by his side, until the surgeon by one
strong wrench forces the bone back into its proper place. Is not that true
of us? We are in the Body of Christ by redeeming grace, but we need to be
set, i.e., to be brought into articulated union with the Will of God in
Christ Jesus. Let us humbly ask the great Surgeon of sods, by the pressure
of His strong and gentle hands, here and now, to joint our wayward wills
with the Will of God, and then to work in us and through us that which is
well-pleasing in His sight! (F B Meyer. Our Daily Walk)

Hebrews 13:20-21
THE GREAT SHEPHERD

IT IS most comforting that our Heavenly Father is "the God of Peace.'" He
is the God of the gentle zephyr, of the evening glow, of the mother's
brooding care; and may be trusted by His gentleness and patience to make
us great. Bruised reeds are not trampled beneath His feet, and the smoking
flax is fanned into a flame. Do not be afraid of God--He is the God of
Peace!

He brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the
sheep. As our Lord descended into the Valley of Death, He breathed His
departing spirit into the Father's hands. He knew that the path of life
would unfold before Him. He knew that the Father's welcome awaited Him.
And God did not fail Him! However low He went, when He descended into
Hades, the Everlasting Arms were always beneath Him; and Him did God raise
up, having loosed the pangs of death, because it was not possible that He
should be holden of it.

And will God do less for the Flock! There are many of the sheep that have
been scattered in the cloudy and dark days. Will every sheep and lamb be
recovered, and led to the green pastures and beside the quiet waters of
Paradise? Yes, every one! The great Shepherd would not be content if one
were missing of those whom the Father has given Him (John10:28-29).
Remember His own parable of the Shepherd who left the ninety and nine to
recover the one. If you have come to Him by your will and choice, you are
included in the Father's gift.

We are secure in the position which His grace has given us. It is secured
not only by the promise of God, but sealed by the Blood of the Cross. That
is the meaning of the words: "The Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the
blood of the eternal covenant." Note that word eternal, which carries us
back to the timeless past, when this compact was made. We may therefore
humbly believe that our names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb
slain from before the foundation of the world (Rev13:8; Rev21:27). But we
are saved to save others! It is thus that we make our calling and election
sure (2Pe 1:10).

PRAYER - We thank Thee, O blessed Master, not only that Thou hast cleansed
us from our sins, but that Thou hast entered into, and ratified by Thy
precious blood, the eternal covenant which has made us Thine for ever.
AMEN. (F B Meyer. Our Daily Walk)

Hebrews 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will.

To perfect is to adjust, to put in
joint, to articulate us with the living Savior. It may be described as a
surgical operation. Too many of those who are in the Body of Christ are
not in living articulate union with Him. Hence the writer asks that we may
be properly jointed with Christ.

The Agent of this process. — The God of
Peace. Let us not be afraid of Him, as though He must use some terrible
anguish, some heartrending grief. He will not shrink from this, if all
other methods fail; but He prefers to achieve his purpose by gentle,
tender, peaceful means. He is the God of the summer evening; of the
bursting spring; of the slumber of the little babe.

The Guarantee that He will perform this
process. — He brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great
Shepherd of the sheep; and surely the power which achieved that bringing
again is capable of any demand that may be made on it. Will He do so much
for the Shepherd, and neglect the flock? Will He give Him the victory, and
forsake those for whom He won it? In bringing the Shepherd did He not
pledge Himself by the most solemn sanctions to do all that needed doing
for the weakest of his sheep?

The Object of this process. — He adjusts us, that all which is well
pleasing in his sight may be readily fulfilled in and through our yielded
natures. When the helmsman is right with the captain, the boat will
naturally take the course that the captain selects. When the machinery is
adjusted with the motive power, the pulse of the piston will be felt away
at the furthest loom, with the smallest amount of leakage and the largest
of result. (Meyer, F. B. Our Daily Homily)